But
Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.”
Mark 5:36-39
Mark 5 [35.] While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”
Mark 5 [36.] But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.”
Mark 5 [40.] They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.
Meaning:
In Mark 5:36-39 Jesus responds to the news that Jairus’ daughter has died. Before the father can sink into despair, Jesus speaks: “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” He then takes only three disciples with him to the house, where a loud crowd of mourners has already gathered. There he makes a statement that sounds absurd to everyone present: “The child is not dead, but is asleep.” These verses show Jesus calmly taking charge in the face of death.
- “Don’t Be Afraid, Only Believe”
Jesus “immediately” spoke to Jairus when he heard the message. The word Mark uses can mean either that Jesus overheard it or that he deliberately disregarded it. Either way, he refused to let the messengers’ verdict be the last word. Luke records the fuller promise: “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed” (Luke 8:50).
The command echoes God’s word to his people throughout Scripture: “Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10). The tense of “believe” suggests “keep on believing.” Jairus had believed enough to come to Jesus; now he had to keep trusting when everything seemed lost. Another father would later cry, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24), a prayer Jairus may well have shared.
- Peter, James, and John
Jesus allowed only Peter, James and John to follow him. These three formed an inner circle who would later witness the transfiguration and be closest to Jesus in Gethsemane. Peter later wrote, “we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). Their presence at Jairus’ house also fulfilled the Law’s principle that “At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). Years later Peter would follow what he learned in this house when he raised Tabitha (Acts 9:40).
- An Uproar, Weeping, and Great Wailing
At the house Jesus found “an uproar, weeping, and great wailing.” Jewish mourning customs were loud and public. Family and neighbours gathered quickly, and professional mourners, usually women skilled in lament, were often hired; later Jewish tradition expected even a poor family to provide flute players and at least one wailing woman at a funeral. Scripture honours grief, for there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). But this mourning was about to be interrupted.
- “Not Dead, but Asleep”
Jesus asked, “Why do you make an uproar and weep?” and declared, “The child is not dead, but is asleep.” He was not denying that she had died; the mourners were certain of it, and their ridicule in the next verse shows it (Mark 5:40). He was declaring that in his presence death is like sleep, a temporary state from which he can wake her. He used the same language of his friend: “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11).
The Significance of Mark 5:36-39
- Faith Over Fear
Fear says, “It’s over.” Faith says, “Jesus is still here.” When bad news comes, Jesus’ words to Jairus are his words to us: do not give way to fear, keep trusting me. Faith does not deny reality, but it brings reality to Jesus and waits for his word.
- Death Is Sleep for Those in Christ
The apostles took up Jesus’ language for believers who die: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Christians still mourn, but “not like the rest, who have no hope.” Every Christian funeral can echo Jesus’ words in Jairus’ house.
Cross-References:
Luke 8:50: "But Jesus hearing it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.”" Luke adds the promise attached to Jesus’ command.
John 11:11: "He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.”" Jesus spoke of Lazarus’ death in the same way.
Isaiah 41:10: "Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness." God’s presence is the reason not to fear.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: "But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus." Believers who die are asleep in Jesus and will rise.
Conclusion: Mark 5:36-39 shows Jesus stepping into a house of mourning with calm authority. He tells a grieving father not to fear but to keep believing, chooses faithful witnesses, and calls death “sleep.” For all who trust him, his words still hold: death is not the end, and the One who spoke them is able to wake the sleeping.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible